California state law requires that the California State Lottery release the winner’s name and the name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was bought.

Yes you can. The telephone number is 1-800-(Lottery) 568-8379.

California Lottery products are only sold at retailers located in California. We do not sell our games online or via the postal mail.

A ticket must be redeemed in the state in which it was purchased.

It is not necessary to be a California resident, nor a US citizen to play and win any of the California Lottery's Scratchers or Draw games. However, to be eligible for 2nd Chance drawings, participants must provide a valid California address and enter submissions from a location within California.

Please call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-568-8379. They can assist you with this matter.

The California Lottery prize is the winner's property and is considered part of the winner's estate. The winner may leave the prize to designated heirs through a will or trust. We encourage all winners of large Lottery prizes to consult with financial experts to review their options.

You can find the most current winning numbers on the winning numbers page. To search or download past or detailed draw information go to that specific game’s page.

There are more than 22,000 Lottery retailers. Our Lucky Retailer section allows you to search for a retailer by game type and narrow results to Lucky Retailers only.

Find a Lottery retailer »

The winning numbers are updated every night. If you’re getting winning numbers that aren't updated, please follow these instructions for your particular web browser:

For Internet Explorer

Open up the webpage you would like to manually refresh, hold the SHIFT key and then click on the “Refresh” button. The “Refresh” button is located on your toolbar, usually to the right of the “Stop” button. If this does not work, you can clear out your entire cache manually. To do this, click on “Tools” which is located on the very top of your screen on the menubar. Then, click on “Internet Options.” You will be presented with a dialogue with lots of options, make sure you're on the “General” tab. Then, click on “Delete”.  This will give you the option to delete your temporary Internet files. Click on “OK” and after your Internet temporary files are cleared, reload the webpage. This should take care of the problem.

For Mozilla Firefox

Open up the webpage you would like to manually refresh, hold the SHIFT key and then click on the “Refresh” button. The “Refresh” button is located on your toolbar, usually to the right of the “Stop” button. If this does not solve your issue, you can clear out your entire cache manually. To do this, click on “Tools” which is located on the very top of your screen on the menubar. Then, click on “Options.” You will be presented with a dialogue box with lots of options, make sure you're on the “Privacy” button - it looks like a lock. Next, click on the “Cache” tab then click on the “Clear Cache Now” button. Once that is done, close the options dialogue and reload the webpage. This should take care of the problem.

Yes… the PB/SLP Combo Key will offer 1-$2 Powerball play with 1-$1 SLP play for $3 to facilitate a one button process when buying both games since both have draws on the same night. (Note: the MM/SLP Combo Key provides 5 $1MM + 5 $1SLP plays for $10)

Yes. 10 Quick Pick plays are available per playslip. Additional Quick Picks are also available via keys on Lottery gaming devices.

NOTE: a maximum of 10 Plays print per ticket.

Yes. POWERBALL® has Advance Play available for up to 10 draws (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 draws). Advance Play is available on the POWERBALL playslip and via keys on Lottery gaming devices.

Yes. The maximum number of claimants on a multiple ownership claim is 100, the same as for SuperLotto Plus and MEGA Millions.

The California Lottery introduced POWERBALL after much study because it helps to maximize the money the Lottery provides to California schools. In addition, there had been many requests from players and retailers that they’d like to see the game in the Lottery’s portfolio.

All U.S. states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. are selling $2 POWERBALL®, except: NV, UT, MS, AL, HI, and AK.

The sales from POWERBALL® in California help supplement public education funding in the State of California just like the sales from all other California Lottery games.

POWERBALL® draws are held primarily in Florida, while “special event draws” can occur “on the road.”

POWERBALL® draws can be viewed from this page (http://www.calottery.com/play/draw-games/powerball).

POWERBALL® draws are at 7:59 pm PT every Wednesday and Saturday. Draws close at 7:00 pm PT on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is a five minute draw break from 7:00 pm PT to 7:05 pm PT pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays in order to clearly separate sales between each draw period. No sales or ticket validations can take place during this time.

Tickets sold after 7:05 pm PT are not eligible for that night’s draw, but are eligible for the following draw.

POWERBALL® jackpots start at $40 million. If there are no jackpot winners, the jackpot will increase at a minimum of $10 million.

If there is more than one Grand Prize winner, the jackpot is divided equally among the winners.

POWERBALL® is a multi-state, mega-jackpot lottery game. The California Lottery began selling tickets for Powerball on April 8, 2013. Each play costs $2. The first Powerball draw which included California sales was April 10, 2013. Draws close every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:00 pm Pacific Time (PT) and winning numbers will be drawn at 7:59 pm PT.

There are nine ways to win a prize in POWERBALL®. Just like SuperLotto Plus® and MEGA Millions®, all the prizes won in California are pari-mutuel.

POWERBALL Prize % and Odds

Odds 1 In
All 5 of 5 and POWERBALL® 292,201,338
All 5 of 5 11,688,054
Any 4 of 5 and POWERBALL® 913,130
Any 4 of 5 36,526
Any 3 of 5 and POWERBALL® 14,495
Any 3 of 5 580
Any 2 of 5 and POWERBALL® 702
Any 1 of 5 and POWERBALL® 92
NONE of 5, only POWERBALL® 39

Overall Odds: 1 In 24.87

The odds presented here are based on a $2 play. “Odds 1 in” are rounded up from two decimal places. Prize amounts are pari-mutuel and vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners. On any play, only the highest prize won is awarded. The jackpot (Match 5 plus the POWERBALL® number) prize amount will roll to the next draw if not hit, and continue rolling until hit. If there are no winners in any of the other prize categories, all monies in those prize categories roll to the SAME prize category for the next draw.

In California, POWERBALL prize amounts are pari-mutuel, will vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners and will differ from the fixed prizes shown on the POWERBALL website.

No. SuperLotto Plus® and MEGA Millions® are still available. SuperLotto Plus continues to have draws every Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions continues to have draws every Tuesday and Friday.

Players have 180 days from the date of the POWERBALL® draw to claim prizes, other than the jackpot. The jackpot can be claimed for up to a year from the date of the POWERBALL® draw.

The POWERBALL® prize is paid in 30 graduated annual installments unless the winner chooses the POWERBALL® Cash Option.

The Cash Option for a POWERBALL® jackpot must be selected by the jackpot winner within 60 days after the Lottery authorizes payment.

Players choose five unique numbers from 1 to 69 (white balls), and one POWERBALL® number from a second field of numbers from 1 to 26 (red balls). There are nine ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red POWERBALL®. Each POWERBALL® play costs $2. POWERBALL® tickets cannot be cancelled.

The overall odds of winning any prize in POWERBALL is about 1 in 25 and the odds of winning the jackpot is about 1 in 293 million.

No. A POWERBALL® winning ticket must be redeemed in the state in which it was purchased.

Due to the popularity of some Scratchers games, Lottery Retailers may risk running out of these tickets.  When this happens, more tickets are printed and shipped to Retailers. These newly printed tickets contain the same proportion of winning tickets as the existing tickets. More total tickets, means more total prizes. The odds of winning with the newly printed tickets are the same as for those tickets already in the stores.

Prizes $599 and under can be claimed at a participating Lottery retail location. Prizes $600 and over require a claim form and must be claimed by contacting a Lottery district office in person or by mail. Download a claim form here »

All prizes of $600 or more are subject to Federal income taxes and other offsets required by law. However, there are no California state/local taxes.

Your Lottery account shows you, real time, how many codes you’ve entered for the month, so you’ll be able to know when you’re getting close to the limit.  The system will stop you from submitting more than 500 codes during the month.

We see this as leveling the playing field.  Every day we strive to ensure the integrity of all our games and promotions, including 2nd Chance.  Unfortunately, some 2nd Chance participants actively search for other participants’ discarded Scratchers tickets, and in the past they have submitted thousands of codes into 2nd Chance.  We are also aware that if a player purchases thousands of dollars in Lottery tickets a month, then this may be a strong indication of a problem gambling issue.  As a World Lottery Association certified Level 4 member, we want to curb potential problem gambling.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please have them call the Problem Gambling toll-free hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.

No.  The limit applies to a combined total of all submissions – whether it’s all Scratchers 2nd Chance, all Fantasy 5 – 2nd Chance, all SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance, or a combination of the three.  Every code you submit counts toward your monthly limit of 500.

Some firewalls or security settings on your personal computer (PC) or network may prevent you from logging in successfully. For example, your PC setting must be enabled to receive cookies. Another potential problem is having too many applications open, as they may interfere with the log in process.

The same limits apply for groups.  The group will still only be able to input 500 codes per month.

Resetting your password is easy. Just click the “Sign in” like normal, and hit “Forgot Password”. Next, enter the email address you used to create your account and we’ll email you a link to reset your password.

If you don’t remember the email address used, please call Customer Service toll-free at 1(800)-LOTTERY.

Here’s our advice: You, the player, are ultimately responsible for the codes you’ve submitted into 2nd Chance.  If there is ever a question regarding one of your codes, we think it’s better to have the physical codes in your possession.  We recommend you keep your codes until the 2nd Chance draw for that particular game has concluded.  However, throwing away your code does not disqualify you from any drawing, and it’s not required that you have the original ticket to claim any 2nd Chance prize, but we’d rather you be safe than sorry!

The Lottery will only count total codes submitted for the month. If you enter a code that's eligible for the weekly Scratchers 2nd Chance draw AND a Promotional draw, that only counts as one of your 500 monthly submissions.

Revising or updating the information on your account is easy. Just sign in, go to the "My Profile" page. After you make changes to any part of your profile, including updating your email address, mailing address, password, etc. – just click "Save". If you update your email address, we will send you a verification email. Don't see the verification email in your inbox? Check your junk/spam folder and add us to your Safe Senders List.

Each time you submit a code, a record of your successful submission appears on the “My Submissions” page.  All your entries appear on that page for your information and reference, so you can check the list against the codes you have.  If the submission record is there, you can be assured that it is in the system.

A record of all previously submitted ticket entries appears on the "My Submissions" page. If the entry record is there, you can be assured that it is in the system.

Winners are randomly selected from all entries received for each drawing. Drawings are conducted according to established Lottery protocols under the observation of an independent Certified Public Accounting firm.

No.  Mail-in entries are not accepted for this promotion.

MEGA Millions is a draw game available through 46 lotteries nationwide and known for its big jackpots. 

Visit www.megamillions.com to learn more about MEGA Millions and participating lotteries.

Prizes over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets required by law. However, there are no California state/local taxes

The jackpot prize for MEGA Millions is the same for all the states. However, in California all other prizes are pari-mutuel, meaning payouts are based on sales and the number of winners.

Yes, MEGA Millions prizes can be shared as long as the group consists of 100 winners or less.

Start a Lottery pool »

Yes, each PLAY on each MEGA Million ticket is an entry into the MEGA Million drawing. All sales are final. MEGA Millions is a draw game available in 46 lotteries nationwide and known for its big jackpots. Visit www.megamillions.com to learn more about MEGA Millions and participating lotteries.

You have up to one year from the date of the draw to claim the jackpot prize. For all other MEGA Millions prizes, you have 180 days to claim your prize.

The overall odds of winning any prize in MEGA Millions is about 1 in 15 and the odds of winning the jackpot is about 1 in 259 million.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit, each of the participating states in the MEGA Millions game will get back all the money they contributed to that jackpot. Each state in the game uses unclaimed prizes for different purposes. In California unclaimed MEGA Millions jackpot prize funds are distributed to public education.

For every $1 spent on the SuperLotto Plus ticket, you will receive one entry into the weekly SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance draw. Submit your code into a weekly SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance draw for a chance to win one of five $15,000 prizes.

Learn more about SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance »

All prizes over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets required by law. However, there are no California state/local taxes.

The overall odds of winning any prize in SuperLotto Plus is about 1 in 23 and the odds of winning the jackpot is about 1 in 42 million.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit the unclaimed SuperLotto Plus jackpot prize funds are distributed to California public education.

Yes.  Codes from Advance Play® are valid. However, to be eligible for an applicable 2nd Chance Draw, an entrant must submit an eligible code during the period designated in the rules for the applicable 2nd Chance Draw.

Five alternate codes are chosen and used only if a selected code is deemed to be ineligible or invalid.

We see this as leveling the playing field.  Every day we strive to ensure the integrity of all our games and promotions, including 2nd Chance.  Unfortunately, some 2nd Chance participants actively search for other participants’ discarded Scratchers tickets, and in the past they have submitted thousands of codes into 2nd Chance.  We are also aware that if a player purchases thousands of dollars in Lottery tickets a month, then this may be a strong indication of a problem gambling issue.  As a World Lottery Association certified Level 4 member, we want to curb potential problem gambling.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please have them call the Problem Gambling toll-free hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.

No.  The limit applies to a combined total of all submissions – whether it’s all SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance, all Fantasy 5 – 2nd Chance, all Scratchers 2nd Chance, or a combination of the three.  Every code you submit counts toward your monthly limit of 500.

Draws are conducted within five business days of the entry deadline.  Entry deadline is 11:59 pm every Saturday.

SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance provides players with a second chance at winning thousands of dollars each week.  Players receive one 2nd Chance code on their SuperLotto Plus ticket.  For every $1 spent on the SuperLotto Plus ticket, you will receive one entry into the weekly SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance draw.  For example, if you play $5 on a single ticket, your 2nd Chance code will be good for 5 (five) draw entries.  SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance drawings occur weekly and offer five $15,000 prizes.

The same limit applies for groups. The group will still only be able to input 500 codes per month.

If you receive a message stating a code is invalid, please double check the code and re-submit.  If you believe a valid code is not being accepted, please contact us.  You can find the “Contact the Lottery” link at the bottom of the website and send us a message explaining the situation.

Any codes submitted after the entry deadline, 11:59 p.m. every Saturday, will automatically be entered into the draw for the following week. Entries are only good for one weekly draw.

No.  You will receive one code on your SuperLotto Plus ticket.  Each code is good for one 2nd Chance draw entry per each $1 spent on the ticket and will expire 180 days from the date of purchase.  Please be aware of the code submission limitation policy.  See other SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance FAQs for more information on this policy.

No.  The Lottery will only count total ticket codes submitted for the month.  For example, if you submit a code that’s eligible for the weekly Scratchers 2nd Chance draw AND a promotional draw, that only counts as one of your 500 monthly submissions.

Winners will be notified by email to sign into the California Lottery website for "important information."  Once signed in,  a link to the claim form needed to claim the prize will be available. You will be asked to download, complete and mail the claim form to the following address:

California Lottery
Attn: 2nd Chance Promotion
P.O. Box 1317
Sacramento, CA 95812-1317

Winners will be notified by email to sign into the California Lottery website for “important information.”  Upon login to the winner’s Lottery account, the winner will be notified of the winning prize.  Winners must submit a Winner Claim Form in accordance with Lottery Regulations and procedures.

Please allow 8 weeks for receipt of your prize.  Contact our Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-LOTTERY, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm if you have any questions.

Each time you submit a code, a record of your successful submission appears on the "My Submissions" page. All your entries appear on that page for your information and reference, so you can check the list against the codes you have. If the submission record is there, you can be assured that it is in the system.

No. For draws that have multiple prizes and prize levels, once selected as a winner for a specific prize, you cannot win another prize in that draw.

No. Mail-in entries are not accepted for this promotion.

Yes. You may enter a draw as many times as you wish, however, be aware of the code submission limitation policy and each submission requires a new code.

All prize payments of $600 or more are subject to Federal tax withholding and other offsets as required by law.  However, there are no California state/local taxes withheld.

The draws are conducted using an Automated Draw Machine, which is a state-of-the-art computer used to draw winning numbers in a fair and equitable way.

You have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim your prize. Free Fantasy 5 tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date.

The overall odds of winning any prize in Fantasy 5 are about 1 in 9, and the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 576 thousand.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit, the unclaimed Fantasy 5 jackpot prize funds are distributed to California public education.

The Automated Draw Machine is a stand-alone computer, which means it isn't connected to any other computer system. The computer's hard drive cannot be opened without breaking a numbered security seal. Inside the computer, the programs that generate the random numbers are permanently implanted or "burned in" and cannot be altered. Tampering with the system in any way is impossible.

The California Lottery has purchased three separate Automated Draw Machines, two are used for the daily draws and the third one is used as an off-site backup in the event of an emergency. Each day before the draw, a manual capsule draw is conducted to determine which draw device will be used - A or B. Another manual capsule draw is conducted to determine which randomization method is used, one being a mathematical algorithm and the other being a Random Number Generator. The numbers selected from either method are unpredictable and selected in an unbiased manner.

Yes. Codes from Advance Play® are valid. However, to be eligible for an applicable 2nd Chance Draw, an entrant must submit an eligible code during the period designated in the rules for the applicable 2nd Chance Draw.

Five alternate codes are chosen and used only if a selected code is deemed to be ineligible or invalid.

We see this as leveling the playing field. Every day we strive to ensure the integrity of all our games and promotions, including 2nd Chance. Unfortunately, some 2nd Chance participants actively search for other participants' discarded tickets, and in the past they have submitted thousands of codes into 2nd Chance. We are also aware that if a player purchases thousands of dollars in Lottery tickets a month, then this may be a strong indication of a problem gambling issue. As a World Lottery Association ceritifed Level 4 member, we want to curb potential problem gambling. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please have them call the Problem Gambling toll-free hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.

No. The limit applies to a combined total of all submissions – whether it’s all Fantasy 5 – 2nd Chance, all SuperLotto Plus 2nd Chance, all Scratchers 2nd Chance, or a combination of the three. Every code you submit counts toward your monthly limit of 500.

Draws are conducted within five business days of the entry deadline. Entry deadline is 11:59 pm every Saturday.

Fantasy 5 - 2nd Chance provides players with a second chance at winning thousands of dollars each week. Players receive one 2nd Chance code on their Fantasy 5 ticket.  For EVERY $5 spent on Fantasy 5 in a single transaction, you will recieve one entry into the weekly Fantasy 5 - 2nd Chance draw. Fantasy 5 - 2nd Chance drawings occur weekly and offer three $10,000 prizes and twelve $1,000 prizes.

The same limits apply for groups. The group will still only be able to input 500 codes per month.

If you receive a message stating a code is invalid, please double check the code and re-submit. If you believe a valid code is not being accepted, please contact us. You can find the "Contact the Lottery" link at the bottom of the website and send us a message explaining the situation.

Any codes submitted after the entry deadline, 11:59 p.m. every Saturday, will automatically be entered into the draw for the following week. Entries are only good for one weekly draw.

The odds of winning vary based on the total number of entries that are received for a drawing, the total number of prizes awarded for each draw and the total number of entries an individual has submitted.

No. You will receive one code on your Fantasy 5 ticket.  Each code is good for one 2nd Chance draw entry per every $5 purchased on a single ticket.  Each code will expire 180 days from the date of purchase. Please be aware of the code submission limitation policy. See other Fantasy 5 – 2nd Chance FAQs for more information on this policy.

Winners will be notified by email to sign into the California Lottery website for "important information."  Once signed in, a link to the claim form needed to claim the prize will be available. You will be asked to download, complete and mail the claim form to the following address:

Winners will be notified by email to sign into the California Lottery website for "important information". Upon login to the winner's Lottery account, the winner will be notified of the winning prize. Winners must submit a Winner Claim Form in accordance with Lottery Regulations and procedures. 

Your Lottery account shows you, real time, how many codes you’ve entered for the month, so you’ll be able to know when you’re getting close to the limit. The system will stop you from submitting more than 500 codes during the month.

Please allow 8 weeks for receipt of your prize. Contact our Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-LOTTERY, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you have any questions.

Each time you submit a code, a record of your successful submission appears on the "My Submissions" page. All your entries appear on that page for your information and reference, so you can check the list against the codes you have. If the submission record is there, you can be assured that it is in the system.

No. For draws that have multiple prizes and prize levels, once selected as a winner for a specific prize, you cannot win another prize in that draw.

No. Mail-in entries are not accepted for this promotion.

Yes. You may enter a draw as many times as you wish, however, be aware of the code submission limitation policy and each submission requires a new code.

All prize payments of $600 or more are subject to Federal tax withholding and other offsets as required by law. However, there are no California state/local taxes withheld.

Your Replay account gives you the option of seeing how many codes you’ve entered each day, so you’ll be able to know when you’re getting close to the limit and stop entering codes so you remain eligible for all draws. There will be no reminder and the system will not stop you from entering more than 1,000 codes, so it’s important that you track how many codes you’ve entered to prevent going over the limit and being disqualified.

All prizes over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets required by law.  However, there are no California state/local taxes.

Yes. If you don't ask for a specific playstyle you will automatically receive the Straight playstyle.

The draws are conducted using an Automated Draw Machine, which is a state-of-the-art computer used to draw winning numbers.

The Automated Draw Machine is a stand-alone computer, which means it isn't connected to any other computer system. The computer's hard drive cannot be opened without breaking a numbered security seal. Inside the computer, the programs that generate the random numbers are permanently implanted or "burned in" and cannot be altered. Tampering with the system in any way is impossible.
The California Lottery has purchased three separate Automated Draw Machines, two are used for the daily draws and the third one is used as an off-site backup in the event of an emergency.

 A draw is conducted to determine which device will be used, and which randomization method is used – A or B. The selection of the machines and programs is unpredictable and conducted in an unbiased manner.

When you make a Straight/Box wager, your $1 wager is divided equally between the Straight and the Box playstyles. This means you can win either by matching your four numbers in exact order (the Straight wager) or by matching all four winning numbers in any order (the Box wager).

For example, if you play 1-2-3-4 for Straight/Box and the winning numbers are 1-2-3-4, you would win both the Straight AND the Box wagers. If the Straight prize for that drawing was $1,500, and if the Box prize for that drawing was $600, you would win half the Straight prize, or $750, PLUS half the Box prize, or $300, for a total of $1,050.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit, the unclaimed Daily 4 prize funds are distributed to California public education.

All prizes over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets required by law.  However, there are no California state/local taxes.

Yes, but if you don't ask for a specific playstyle you will automatically receive the Straight playstyle.

The draws are conducted using an Automated Draw Machine, which is a state-of-the-art computer used to draw winning numbers.

The Automated Draw Machine is a stand-alone computer, which means it isn't connected to any other computer system. The computer's hard drive cannot be opened without breaking a numbered security seal. Inside the computer, the programs that generate the random numbers are permanently implanted or "burned in" and cannot be altered. Tampering with the system in any way is impossible. The California Lottery has purchased three separate Automated Draw Machines, two are used for the daily draws and the third one is used as an off-site backup in the event of an emergency.

A draw is conducted to determine which device will be used, and which randomization method is used – A or B. The selection of the machines and programs is unpredictable and conducted in an unbiased manner.

When you make a Straight/Box wager, your $1 wager is divided equally between the Straight and the Box playstyles. This means you can win either by matching your three numbers in the exact order (the Straight wager) or by matching all three winning numbers in any order (the Box wager).

For example if you play 1-2-3 for Straight/Box and the winning numbers are 1-2-3, you would win both the Straight AND the Box wagers. If the Straight prize for that drawing was $500 and the Box prize for that drawing was $200 you would win half the Straight prize, or $250, PLUS half the Box prize, or $100, for a total of $350.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit, the unclaimed Daily 3 prize funds are distributed to California public education.

All prizes over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets required by law.  However, there are no California state/local taxes.

The draws are conducted using an Automated Draw Machine, which is a state-of-the-art computer used to draw winning numbers.

The Automated Draw Machine is a stand-alone computer, which means it isn't connected to any other computer system. The computer's hard drive cannot be opened without breaking a numbered security seal. Inside the computer, the programs that generate the random numbers are permanently implanted or "burned in" and cannot be altered. Tampering with the system in any way is impossible.
The California Lottery has purchased three separate Automated Draw Machines, two are used for the daily draws and the third one is used as an off-site backup in the event of an emergency. A draw is conducted to determine which device will be used, and which randomization method is used – A or B.

The selection of the machines and programs is unpredictable and conducted in an unbiased manner.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit, the unclaimed Daily Derby prize funds are distributed to California public education.

All prizes over $599 are subject to federal income taxes and other offsets required by law. However, there are no California state/local taxes.

If a prize is not claimed within the required time limit, the unclaimed Hot Spot prize is distributed to California public education.

Any verified player who believes in the power of group play, enjoys sharing their passion with others, loves being the cheerleader by encouraging people to be positive about playing, and like the responsibility of organizing the playing itself, is a Jackpot Captain.

There are two settings that affect when you will receive email communications from the Lottery—general "opt-in" and "Alert" emails.

As a registered player you are automatically set up to receive general emails from the Lottery regarding exciting Lottery news and information. Alert emails however are a service the Lottery provides players who wish to receive "Winning Number" and "Jackpot Alert" notifications.

To change your preferences for the general opt-in setting, just sign in, hover over the MY ACCOUNT tab in the top right corner and select "Edit Personal Details".

Locate the line that starts with, "I give permission to the Lottery…" and change your general opt-in settings by either checking or unchecking that box and clicking "Update".

To change your Alert email preferences from the Edit Personal Details page, just select "Edit Alerts", check all of the alerts that you wish to receive and click "Update".

Remember the Lottery will never provide your email address to any outside party.

If your entry is selected in a Jackpot Captain sweepstakes, you will receive an email from the Lottery informing you that you have an important message at the California Lottery website. Once you sign into your account at calottery.com, you will receive details about your prize and instructions on how to claim it.

Please note that the Lottery will NEVER send you an email saying, "Congratulations, you are a winner!", or anything similar.

The Lottery will make several attempts to contact you via email and if you do not respond, will send a final notice via USPS mail to the registered address on your account.

For this reason it is important to maintain accurate information on your player profile at all times.

Yes. However, the new Jackpot Captain has to register as a Jackpot Captain.

The Lottery’s mandate, as defined in the California State Lottery Act, is to provide supplemental funding to California public education on all levels from kindergarten through higher education, plus several specialized schools.

All segments of public schools receive the same per pupil funding level from the Lottery based on the average daily attendance of students in each school district. Since 1985, the educational institutions that receive Lottery funds and their cumulative distributions are listed below:

K-12th Grade -- 76.71%
Community Colleges -- 16.22%
California State University System -- 4.30%
University of California -- 2.70%
Other Educational Entities -- .07%

In total Lottery contributions, California public schools have received $28 billion in Lottery funds since the Lottery began in October 1985. The Lottery generated $1.35 billion for public schools in FY 2013-14. This contribution currently represents about 1% of the state’s public school annual budget. Remember, Lottery funds are to supplement public education, not to replace state and local funding.

According to the Lottery Act, Lottery contributions can be used only for instructional purposes. The Act bans the use of Lottery funds for the acquisition of property, the construction of facilities or the funding of research.

Some districts, especially smaller school districts and higher education, have used funds for computer labs, teacher workshops, science programs, as well as art and music programs.

Local education administrators, elected school boards and the administrators of higher education make the decisions how Lottery funds are distributed and spent within their systems. The Lottery is not involved in this decision-making process.

Any ticket over $599 cannot be redeemed at a Lottery retailer and must be mailed into the Lottery along with a claim form. It is recommended that you use certified mail when mailing your claim form and ticket to guarantee delivery. You can obtain a Winner Claim Form from any Lottery retailer or download from this site.

Get Winner Claim Form and learn how to claim your prize »

Many players have received letters (or emails) using the California Lottery, SuperLotto Plus or MEGA Millions name and logo, claiming they have won a lottery prize. THIS IS A SCAM! They are attempting to gain access to your personal information, such as Social Security Number or bank account numbers and attempting to steal your money.

If you receive a letter claiming that you have won a lottery prize and the letter asks you to contact a listed representative to find out how to claim your winnings, please do not respond to the letter. Instead, please contact our Security & Law Enforcement toll-free at 800-LOTTERY (800-568-8379) as soon as possible. A Lottery representative will ask you for any names, company name, phone numbers and addresses listed on the letter. The Lottery tracks this information and works in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies to help identify these criminals.

Contact Lottery’s Security & Law Enforcement toll-free at 800-LOTTERY (800-568-8379) and provide staff with the following information:

Staff will open a security incident report and depending upon the situation, notify other appropriate Lottery staff to take further action.

If you lose a draw game ticket, contact our Security & Law Enforcement toll-free at 800-LOTTERY (800-568-8379) as soon after the occurrence as possible. Remember, the sooner you report your ticket lost or stolen, the better staff will be able to assist you. Please be able to provide as much detail about your ticket as possible including:

If your ticket information can be located and it is determined that your ticket is a winner, staff will place your ticket on a security hold and mail you the appropriate paperwork.

Unfortunately, lost Scratchers tickets cannot be relocated.

You must verify your account to activate your membership. To verify your account, find the Lottery verification email in your inbox and follow the easy instructions.

If you don’t see your verification email in your inbox, check your junk/spam folder. Then add us to your Safe Senders List so this doesn't happen in the future.

If you don’t see your verification email in your inbox, look in your junk/spam folder. Then add us to your Safe Senders List so this doesn't happen in the future.

If the verification email isn’t in your inbox or junk/spam folder, check to make sure we have your correct email address in the system and request a new verification email.

The Lottery requires that all account holders verify their email to: 1) ensure we have your correct email address and 2) protect the Lottery and its players against fraud.

If you haven't received your verification email, check your junk/spam folder and add us to your Safe Senders List. If it is not in your junk/spam folder, request a new verification email.